Calico

Not the softest ever but it was weird in a funny way.

Still, if it happens in the World Cup then I won't be fussed.

. . .

Looks like Fifa are determined to get the ball rolling on clubs with underhand practises in the transfer market.

I reckon this could be the beginning of stamping down on other things like tapping up youngsters, i.e. Cesc Fabregas.

Think it's a shame players in our leagues don't get punished even that much.

People seem to have short memories. Do we not remember having less choices in the wide positions than we do now and doing pretty damned well any way? How a wide player like Bentley could be considered so impressive when we need another CB, a LB and a holding DM good enough to start most games is beyond me.

Exactly, jamie

Just thought I'd answer the bit about whether they played on the same flank. I am of the mind that flanks, systems and symmetry aren't so important to players of this kind, therefore I agree with your sentiment that them having played in the same eleven is an advantage.

Heitinga and Pienaar did not play down the same side at Ajax. Heitinga played primarily as a CB - holding DM on the rare occasion - whilst Pienaar played in a floating three in the middle.

Damn you beat me to it

I still don't want him, though.

Maybe one of the rules could be for people to verify their vote by simply posting a response with whatever option they choose? Then you basically disregard any votes which haven't been verified. It's a bit of a pain to maintain but a viable option nonetheless.

I've got my fingers crossed about that, actually. Pienaar with either Hibbert or Heitinga if we get him whilst Bily and Baines on the other side. Then put Arteta in the middle with a holding player and Yak and Saha up front together whilst Jags and Distin/Yobo at the back.

Hah. Sounds so simple and such a tantalising prospect when you type it up on a keyboard doesn't it? Got to love football.

Spanish press have him rejecting a move to Turkey, it seems: http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/08/31/1471383/real-madrids-van-der-vaart-rejects-besiktas-offer-report

The last three posts all read well for me. Totally agree . . . well, except for the bit about him being bought as a DM which can't be verified unless there is an interview to be linked with or unless we have Moyes himself posting on this site giving out such information

No way. He turns his head so it's not as bad? It was a stamp!

To call that terrible technique is not only letting him off lightly but also not being harsh enough; it would be called f*cking awful technique.

The history books? Which history books? This label aroused my curiosity.

But surely having two LBs and one holding player who isn't too young or not really a holding player (Rodwell and Neville respectively) in the squad is more important than two quality players and a youngster with a lot of promise and a competent utility player for the right side of midfield?

I'm not even sure Bentley has the quality when compared to our other creative players but I'd happily play devil's advocate on this one.

As a proper holding player? Seriously? I didn't know that. I thought he had a reputation for attacking play rather than being a specialist holding player.

The Milk Cup seems to be a precursor for talent which turns into established quality or am I confusing it with other youth tournaments?

Bridge has played in Champions League and played well whereas Baines hasn't. I can see where Capello is coming from tbh. Besides, I'd rather have him free of those extra games

People seem to be forgetting that Felli is not even 22 yet and scored a handy number of goals for us last season.

Oh! I totally agree with you on the specifics! I think that we don't need Bentley at all since the right side already has a number of competent candidates available.

Aye. Pienaar on the right IMO.

Also, I think that for any club not threatened by relegation that creating competition for places is one of very few ways to genuinely improve the performances of your first 11.

I think the fact that Moyes has spent so long building this entire squad will help him steer clear of not knowing what his best 11 is. Besides, only bad managers can't see their best 11 as the season progresses. The fact is that players on form should play, as best as is possible.

Out and out wingers worth their salt cost too much money these days for us to have but both Bily and Pienaar are likely to be more than adequate replacements IMO.

I'm desperate to see us play 4-4-2 and hope that Moyes' hand is forced into it.

I totally disagree about you with Rodwell and am on Moyes' side. He is not *that* good . . . yet.

That was the impression I got via the radio.

Hibbert, like Osman, is a very good squad player IMO and to lose these two would only be bad for the club.

That doesn't mean JH wouldn't displace him, though, and I too get frustrated at their lack of ability sometimes but it is certainly no reason to be as harsh on them as some fans are IMO. These are players who deserve our support because the fact is that if the s*it hit the fan they would still be there trying their arses off.

So upon looking at the current MotM thread I see that a few people seem to be of the opinion that no matter what impact a player has on a game that if they're a sub who has been on for a relatively short period of time that they do not deserve to be called man of the match.

It is something I have always wondered about with regards to how other people felt so with that in mind . . .

For Everton football club (and no other team) does a player have to have been on the pitch for a certain amount of time to be considered man of the match?

Personally, I think that if a player has the most impact upon a match regardless of length of time on the pitch then they deserve the award.

I shall also wait until after MOTD to make my vote

Edit: So I went with Rodwell. I get the impression that whilst others provided the sharp end of our goals Jack was there for most of the match as a calm, controlling influence.

Though, to be honest, they still only showed about two seconds so it was difficult to judge.

Really? I've always found his first touch to be quite good. Of course poor pitches never help a player's touch, especially when said player has had a number of recent injuries.

I can also understand what could be said to be greed since he often has to play by himself as the *only* player capable of the accuracy he can achieve when it comes to shooting. I suppose we'll see his best when he is surrounded by a combination of attacking players such as: Arteta, Bily and Pienaar.